Hummingbirds are unmistakably recognizable with their tiny size, fast wingbeats and iridescent feathers. And while there are hundreds of species in the Americas, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only one to nest here in Delaware.
Ruby-throated males and females have some beautiful bright green upper feathers and males have that bright red throat although sometimes it’s hard to see. They weigh around 3 grams, which is about as much as a penny and lay tiny eggs the size of jelly beans. Hummingbirds can beat their wings extremely fast (50-200 times per second) and hover while feeding.
If you enjoy watching these birds, they are easy to attract by providing nectar feeders. While there are many styles of feeders on the market, the important thing to remember is that the feeder must be cleaned regularly to prevent spreading disease in the hummingbird population.
Another way to attract these birds to your yard is to plant their favorite nectar producing plants. Two native plants that I have in my backyard that are visited daily by hummingbirds are coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans.) The bonus is I don’t have to refill or clean this type of hummingbird feeder – it’s always ready to go!
Author: Jes Reed
